College Football Teams That Play in a Dome

College football is known for its impressive stadiums, many of which require battling the elements. However, some programs opt for domed stadiums, which offer a controlled environment, amplifying crowd noise and ensuring games proceed regardless of weather. Nine Division I football teams call unique indoor stadiums "home." Two others, Tulane and Georgia State, play in indoor stadiums primarily used by NFL teams. This article explores college football teams that play in domed stadiums, highlighting the unique features and atmospheres they offer.

The Appeal of Domed Stadiums

While open-air stadiums hold a special place in college football tradition, domed stadiums offer undeniable advantages. They provide a consistent playing environment, shielding players and fans from rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. The enclosed space enhances crowd noise, creating an electric atmosphere that can be a significant home-field advantage.

Notable Domed Stadiums in College Football

Several college football teams across different divisions call domed stadiums home. Here's a look at some of the most notable:

Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Originally known as the Louisiana Superdome and formerly the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Caesars Superdome is a multi-purpose stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. Plans for the Superdome were drawn up in 1967, and the building opened in 1975. The Superdome has hosted eight Super Bowls and six NCAA championships in men's college basketball. Since 1975, the Sugar Bowl, one of the "New Year's Six" bowl games of the College Football Playoff, has been played at the Superdome, as was the 2020 National Championship. The Superdome also traditionally hosts the Bayou Classic, a rivalry game between Southern University and Grambling State University, historically black colleges and universities.

Local businessman David Dixon conceived of the Superdome while attempting to convince the NFL to award a franchise to New Orleans. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle told Dixon that the NFL would never expand into New Orleans without a domed stadium after hosting several exhibition games at Tulane Stadium during typical New Orleans summer thunderstorms. Dixon then won the support of the governor of Louisiana, John McKeithen. McKeithen, after touring the Astrodome in Houston, Texas in 1966, said, "I want one of these, only bigger."

Read also: Enrollment at Notre Dame

The stadium was conceptualized as a multifunctional stadium for football, baseball, and basketball, with moveable field-level stands arranged specifically for each sport. There were also meeting rooms that could be rented for various purposes. Political delays postponed construction until August 11, 1971, and it was not finished until August 1975, seven months after Super Bowl IX was scheduled to be played in the stadium. The New Orleans Saints moved into the Superdome in 1975.

The Superdome was used as a "shelter of last resort" for those in New Orleans unable to evacuate from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The building suffered extensive damage during the storm and was closed for many months afterward. The Superdome cost $185 million to repair and refurbish. The Saints played their home opener on September 24, 2006, against the Atlanta Falcons.

Renovations have been made to the Superdome over the years, including the installation of new windows in 2008 and the replacement of the outer layer of the stadium in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, demolition and new construction began to the lower bowl of the stadium, reconfiguring it to increase seating by 3,500, widening the plaza concourse, and building two bunker club lounges. In November 2019, phase one plans were approved for a $450 million renovation. The renovation included atriums that replaced the ramp system, improved concourses, and field-level end zone boxes.

The Superdome is located on 70 acres (28 ha) of land. The Superdome has a listed football seating capacity of 76,468 (expanded) or 73,208 (not expanded) and a maximum basketball seating capacity of 73,432. The Superdome's primary tenant is the NFL's New Orleans Saints. The Bowl Championship Series National Championship Games were played at the Superdome four times. The College Football Playoff semifinal game is played every three years in the stadium. The CFP national championship game was played at the stadium once (and will return in 2028). The stadium also now hosts the Louisiana Kickoff.

Since the Superdome's reopening after Hurricane Katrina and the Saints' increased success, the Superdome has developed a reputation for having a strong home-field advantage.

Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)

The Alamodome is an anomaly amongst indoor college football stadiums. It was built for the purpose of being an NFL stadium, but San Antonio was never able to attract an NFL team. When the University of Texas-San Antonio started up a college football team in 2011 and became the main tenants of the Alamodome, the stadium became the largest indoor stadium whose main tenant is a college football team. In their inaugural home game, they managed to attract over 50,000 fans, who were able to fit comfortably into the spacious Alamodome. They also managed to set the record for highest average attendance for a first-year college football team, averaging over 35,000 per home game.

While primarily known for hosting the annual Alamo Bowl, the Alamodome is the proud home of the UTSA Roadrunners. This multi-purpose facility boasts a significant capacity (73,000) and a lively atmosphere, especially as the Roadrunners’ program continues to grow in the American Conference. The most prominent sports venue in San Antonio, the Alamodome also plays host to the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas and other major events like the 2025 Final Four.

JMA Wireless Dome (Syracuse, New York)

Holding the distinction of being the largest domed stadium in the Northeast (with a capacity of 49,000), the JMA Wireless Dome (formerly known as the Carrier Dome) has been a staple of Syracuse University since 1980. It’s the only true on-campus domed stadium in Division I FBS football (for now), obviously making it the strongest candidate for “Best Domed Stadium in College Football”. The notorious Syracuse Orange have thrived here and caused many an upset going back to the Big East days and beyond.

Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada)

While primarily an NFL stadium (home of the Las Vegas Raiders), Allegiant Stadium also serves as the home for the UNLV Rebels. This state-of-the-art facility, opened in 2020, offers an accordingly impressive experience with its sleek design and absolutely massive video boards. While still relatively new to the college football scene, this stadium has already seen some intense action through UNLV’s almost playoff run in 2024. This excitement only grows more intense as the UNLV program builds its following and influence in the entertainment capital of the world.

Kibbie Dome (Moscow, Idaho)

The Kibbie Dome, located on the campus of the University of Idaho, offers a truly unique setting for Vandals football. While quite a bit smaller than FBS domed stadiums on this list (with a capacity of 15,250), its barn-like shape and cozy interior have earned it a cult following in the College Football community. It is arguably the most well-known on this list, if you have enough College Football Sickos on your timeline at least.

Walkup Skydome (Flagstaff, Arizona)

Home to the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, the Walkup Skydome provides a consistent playing environment in the high altitude of Flagstaff. One of the most impressive stadiums in FCS Football, even with a smaller capacity of 11,230. Built in 1977, the Walkup Skydome has aged incredibly well. One of the unique things about it is that the Skydome is actually wooden, as opposed to metal. The playing field itself sits at just under 7,000 feet above sea level and 20 feet up from the field, there is a mark on the building to showcase where 7,000 feet above sea level is. The turf has been modernized, as AstroTurf was replaced with FieldTurf in 2008.

Fargodome (Fargo, North Dakota)

The Fargodome is home to the North Dakota State Bison, a dominant force in FCS football. No other dome has as many College Football championships listed on its banners, and in fact few stadiums of any kind do, given the Bison boast 18 national titles. The Fargodome is large, but not too large. There is still a comfortable feel to it. Walls jut in at some corners to serve as natural separation and prevent the Fargodome from being just another boring, cookie-cutter multi-purpose building. By far the most impressive trait of the Fargodome is how loud it gets inside. The boisterous Bison fans rival any in college football. The noise levels inside the Fargodome during Bison home games have been measured at levels matching those found at some NFL games. The intense noise levels inside the Fargodome have earned it the nickname "thunderdome."

Holt Arena (Idaho State Bengals)

Location: Pocatello, IdahoCapacity: 12,000The Holt Arena, opened in 1970, was the first indoor stadium in college football. Unfortunately, its age shows. The arena is cramped, due to the roof sloping steeply downwards towards the endzone. The seats are set up in color-coordinated rows that are quite unpleasant to look at. The bright colors of those seats are about the only bright things in the arena, as it is quite dark inside, lacking natural lighting. The Holt Arena is also a multi-purpose arena, and that unfortunately also shows. Wrestling mats, segments of the track and all sorts of other non-football elements are readily visible at football games. Idaho State is at least trying to make the Holt Arena pleasant. New turf was installed in 2011, replacing AstroTurf that had been in place since the Arena opened in 1970. Although the Holt Arena was innovative when it first opened in 1970, it has since been eclipsed by all other indoor stadiums in college football.

DakotaDome (South Dakota Coyotes)

Location: Vermillion. South DakotaCapacity: 10,000Less than a decade after the Holt Arena ushered in indoor college football stadiums, the DakotaDome opened as the home to the South Dakota Coyotes. While it has also become somewhat outdated, it does have a few positive attributes. The roof of the DakotaDome is quite high in the air, giving the entire the illusion of being much more spacious than it actually is. The roof is relatively new, having been installed in 2001 as a replacement for an air-supported roof that had previously collapsed. Unfortunately, not much else has been updated. The wooden bleachers and curtains covering the walls are eerily reminiscent of a middle-school auditorium. Despite its flaws, the Coyotes seem to enjoy playing at the DakotaDome, boasting a home winning percentage of over .700.

Alerus Center (North Dakota Fighting Sioux)

Location: Grand Forks, North DakotaCapacity: 12,283The Alerus Center is relatively new, having opened in 1998. Despite its small football capacity, it is actually a fairly nice indoor stadiumDespite being indoors, there is actually some pretty good scenery at the Alerus Center. From the myriad of crisscrossing beams in the ceiling to the many nooks and crannies found throughout the Alerus Center, there is quite a bit of interesting architecture to be admired. Overall, the Alerus Center is a nice little indoor stadium.

UNI-Dome (Northern Iowa Panthers)

Location: Cedar Falls, IowaCapacity: 16,324Opened in 1974, the UNI-Dome has been renovated several times, and it shows. Without knowing its age, you would never guess that the UNI-Dome is almost 40 years old. The roof was originally an air-supported one, but was replaced in 1994 by a metal one. However, a large skylight takes up a considerable portion of the roof, making the UNI-Dome feel light and open. The roof is not the only part of the stadium that has received a considerable upgrade. In 2009, the old turf was replaced with ultra-modern Mondoturf.

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